Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-02-10
AUGUSTUS PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
A Story Told on the Congressman
who Engineered the Bill.

Atlanta tGa.l Cor. augusta Chronicle.
The news of Augustus good fortune in
at last getting an appropriation for a
public building is received with pleasure
here, and Maj. Barnes success in getting
the bill through has elected many ex-
pressions OF commentator and congrat-
ulation from his friends in Atlanta.
His success was the subject OF CONVEX
sation among group OF gentlemen in
the ComptroIler's Office to-day, and the
talk gradually drifted into anecdotes
about bis size, ETC., when a member of
the party told the following practical
joke which was played on him by Hon.
Joseph b. Cumming, at that time his
law partner In Augusta.
Mai. Barnes, like most fat men, was
quite susceptible to heat, and one bright
morning in April was quite animated and
eloquent in denouncing the Office boy
who was about to start fire in his office,
The boy desisted, of course, and the CRATE
remained for several mouths with its bur-
den OF kindling and coal ready to respond
Instantly to the touch of match.
One sultry afternoon in July, when
the mercury was careering wildly at the
top of the tube, Mai. Cumming espied
this latent fire in The CRATE, and deter
mined at once upon playing joke on
his partner. Maj. Barnes was absent at
the court house, where he had been bored
for several hours with an exasperating
case. But it was near the hour of adj
journment, and knowing that he would
soon be in, Maj. Cumming touched a
match to the lightwood, and in little
while there was a steady coal fire that
would have made things com Portable with
the thermometer below zero. He with
drew into an adjoining office to await de-
velopments.
Pretty soon the impressive tread OF the
Major was heard upon the stairs, and,
| Juggling an armful of law books and fam
| ming himself with his hat, ne entered his
| office. Contrary to all expectations there
| was no explosion, and Maj. Cumming
sauntered into the office to see how mat
| tiers were progressing. To his amaze
ment aud qualification Maj. Barnes had
not discovered the fire at all, and was
| seated at his table, with his back to the
CRATE, looking over some papers that had
| been lett for mis- attention. The perspira-
| ton was standing upon his face and
| hands, which he was furlously hopping
| with his handkerchief.
Almost overcome at the scene, but with
well maintained gravity, Maj. Cumming
| said: Don't you think it is quite warm
| this afternoon, GeorgeW
"Warml It's as hot as sheol." And
around, removed his coat and vest and
resumed his seat.
Maj. Cumming could stand it no longer,
and going into Maj. Blacks office, who
was also In the joke, told him to go in and
see how George was getting along.
Maj. Black strolled in and, after max
ing some inquiry about his case In court,
said: 'DOn't you find the weather very
oppressive tO-dayW
''Ips the hottest day OF the year. Pm
nearly suffocating," gasped the Major as
he removed his collar and cravat and
wiped his neck vigorously with his hand
kerchief.
Maj. Black withdrew to explode, and
then Mr.. John Walton anc the other law
yers in the "Range" went in one by one
and made some remark on the weather.
Then they all went in together. Maj.
Barnes was by this time in a state Of
frenzy, and as he arose to get chair for
one of the party he discovered the bed of
blazing GOALS. In moment the situation
dawned upon him, and, literally boiling
with rage, he cried out: NV mere is Joe
Cumming? ID if l don't kill him."
But Maj. Cumming was by this time
besLrde his horse and we'll on his way to
his home on the Sand Hills, smiling as the
evening breeze famed his cheek and he
thought of his sutf0cating partner behind
him.